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Hammock Camping with Truck's Roof Rack

Discussion in 'Outdoors' started by Off Topic Guy, Dec 5, 2023.

  1. Dec 5, 2023 at 7:24 AM
    #1
    Off Topic Guy

    Off Topic Guy [OP] 2023 Trophy Points - Runner Up

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    How many people have successfully hammocked using the trucks roof rack (Prinsu/Sherpa/UpTop/Martin/etc)(extrusion style racks, not OEM) as an anchor point on one or both sides? Its obviously doable, but how "smart" is it to hang a hammock off the rack? My hesitation is not understanding the strengths of components, or the types of loads that would be put on the rack/bolts, so I've never been willing to try it. I'm fully confident in the racks ability to hold weight (downwards), but I'm not confident in side loading a rack. In a scenario like the picture below, with all of the weight on the grab handle/M6-M8 bolts, I'd fear the small bolts snapping/shearing. Even if wrapping the strap around the entire side panel of the rack, wouldn't all of the weight be pulling sideways (to an extent) on the mounting bolts that run thru the trucks roof? How much could that safely handle? Would love to have some informational discussions:
    [​IMG]
     
    auskip07 likes this.
  2. Dec 5, 2023 at 7:36 AM
    #2
    Off Topic Guy

    Off Topic Guy [OP] 2023 Trophy Points - Runner Up

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    I haven't tried it yet, but my initial thoughts for a solution instead of side loading the rack, girth the strap around the opposite side's slider, then toss the strap over the roof to the other side and attach, then all weight in the hammock would be pulling straight down, evenly distributed across the entire width of the rack.

    For the picture above, assuming the truck had sliders, run the strap around the passenger slider, over the top, and through the driver's side grab handle to keep the strap from sliding front to back. This sounds safer to me. Any thoughts, other than potentially scratching truck with straps/shredding straps with metal edges of rack? (obviously would use some padding in that case)
     

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